Apparatus for handling bottles or other containers.



0. EICK.

APPARATUS FOR HANDLING BOTTLES OR OTHER CONTAINERS.

APPLIOATION FILED 001'. 5, 1005.

1,106,933. Patented Aug. 4, 1914-.

4 SHEBTS-SHEET 1.

O. EIOK.

APPARATUS FOR HANDLING BOTTLES OR OTHER CONTAINERS.

Patented Aug. 4, 1914.

APPLICATION IILED OUT. 5,

4 SHEETSSHBET 2.

O. BIGK.

APPARATUS FOR HANDLING BOTTLES OR OTHER CONTAINERS.

APPLICATION FILED OUT. 5, 1905. 1,106,033,

Patented Aug. 4, 191% 4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

0. BIOK. APPARATUS FOR HANDLING BOTTLES OR OTHER CONTAINERS.

APPLICATION IILED OUT. 5, 1905.

1,1 06,033, Patented Aug. 4, 1914.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

To all whom it may concernu sTrE OTTO EIUK, OF BALTIMORE, MAIRYLAND.

Be it known that I,Orro Emma citizen of the United States, residing in Baltimore city, State of Maryland, have invented certain'new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Handling Bottles or other 'Containers,lofwhich the following is a specification.

My present invention pertains to an improved apparatus for handling bottlesor other containers, the apparatus being especially designed for use as a pasteurizer, though equally applicable to the washing and cleaning of bottles. either filled or empty. y

The invention will be best-'- understood upon reference to the annexed drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of the forward portion of the apparatus; Fig. 2 is a side elevation, partly in section, of the discharge end of the apparatus, said figure being a continuationof Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. IyFig. 4 is an end elevation of the forward or feed end of the machine, showing the feed'wheel and the driving-mechanism therefor; Fig. 5 is an end elevation of the discharge end of the machine; Fig. 6 is an elevation of amodified formof feeding or crate-presenting mechanism.

The main object, of m inventionis to produce a simple and e cient apparatus,

which may be used as a pasteurizer, and in which access may be had to the bottles or other containers at any point in their travel throu h the-machine. a

A urther object of the invention is to provide means for resenting the bottleholders or crates to t e means employed for advancing the crates through the machine.

A still further object is to provide means for cleaning the exterior of the bottles as they are discharged frcm the machine.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, A designates a tank, substantially U-shaped in cross section, closed at each end, and mount ed updn suitable supports. frames B extend over the top of the tank, from side to side, said frames being securely fastened to the u per edges of the walls of. the tank. A ro C passes'through the central. elevated portions of the frames B, and upon said rod are hinged the lids or covers D of the tank, said lids. when lowered, making a relatively close fit with Specification of Letters Patent.

Cross-ties or Patented Aug. 4, 1914.

Application filed October 5, 1905. Seria1No. 281,520.

the tank and with the lower portions or flanges of the cross-ties or frames B.

' Tank A is divided into a number of chambers or compartments by a series of upright partitions E, three such partitions being shown in Fig. 1 andv one in Fig. 2, in which latter figure there is also shown a double-wall compartment, making six chambers in all, which, for the sake of convenience, I have designated as 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6. It is to be understood, however, that any number of chambers or compartments may be employed, the number being determined b the circumstances of each articular case. hambers 3 and 4, or the ower portions thereof, are provided with a steam-jacket F, as,-.in the arrangement of the apparatus here, shown, it is in said chambers that the greatest heat is maintained. The partition between chambers 5 and 6 is made hollow, as will be seen upon reference to Fig. 2, and a pipe G opens into'the lower portion of said partition, for the introduction of cold water. The water, as it is heated by contact with the walls of the partition, which absorb heat from the water in chambers 5 and 6, will rise and overflow into one or the other of said chambers, accordingly as one or the other wall of said partition is made higher or lower. It is of course to be understood that a'continuous su ply of water is introduced through pipe Each of the upright partitions E is provided with a rectangularsha ed opening E at its upper portion, centrally of the tank, as will be seen upon reference to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, and each end of 'the tank is also provided with an opening,

' crates containing the bottles to be ntroduced into the machine and passed therethro'ugh, or to be dpass'e'cl from one chamber to another, an discharged from the end of the machine.

Ashaft H extends lengthwise of the machine, assing through each of the partitions, t rough suitable collars I mounted on said shaft, and through stufiin boxes J, mounted upon the end walls 0 the tank. Mounted upon shaft H,in each of the chambers, are wheels or carriers K, (one or more),-,each wheel being provided with a series of outwardly extending arms or members L, the adjacent side walls of which are substantially parallel, forming pockets or recesses Each member L is provided with a pair of horizontally-disposed ways or tracks N,'oi such length as to properly support a tray when the tracks are in alinement with the opening formed in the end of the tank. As the shaft H is rotated, and

fconsequently the wheels are carried around in the tank, the bottles and tray will reach a point where the tracks will no longer support them. To prevent the bottles and tray wheels or carriers,--that is, they may be of a length sufficient to support two trays, as shown in Fig. l. Tn chamber or compartment 4-, the ways or tracks are extended to accommodate four trays in series. The outer end of shaft i l, at the forward end of the machine, is reduced, and has a wheel or carrier Q, loosely mounted'thereon, said wheel, in the form shown in Fig- 4, being provided with four pairs of arms lit, having tracks or ways S secured to or formed thereon. and designed to supportand hold a bottle-holding rack with the bottles therein.

The trays are designed to be placed upon the tracks at the right-hand side of the machine, and to be carried up into line with the opening in the end of the tank, preparatory to being passed into the compartment or chamber 1.

The hub of wheel Q has splined to it a p n on T, motion being imparted to said pinion by a gear lU splined to the main shaft H, said. gear U serving to transmit its motion to pinion T through pinion V and gear W, the pinion V meshing with gear U, and the gear W meshing with the pinion T. The gears and pinions are so proportioned that wheel Q will make one-fourth of a revolution every time shaft H makes one fifteenth or a complete revolution,--or, in other words, every time shaft H is moved to take one of its crates out of line with the opening in the end or the tank and to bring another one into line therewith. The proportioning of the gears of course depends upon the number of tracks or supports upon the wheel, and the number of tracks or sup porting members upon the various carriers within the tank.

In Fig. 6, the outer wheel is shown as provided withsix supporting tracks, and as a consequence the proportion of the gears is zhanged'soas to impart a slower movement to the crate-presenting carrier. The tracks icense upon the wheel Q, and upon the various wheels or carriers mounted Within the several chambers or compartments, must of course be brought into alinement when it becomes necessary to pass a new crate of hottles into the machine and to discharge a crate from the opposite end of the machine. In order to properly support the discharged crate, ll provide a pair of tracks K (Fig. 5), said tracks standing in alinement with the tracks of the last carrier as they are brought into alinement therewith by the step-by-step movement or the carriers within the compartment.

In order to introduce the trays into the machine, to advance them through the com partments successively, and to discharge them from the last compartment onto the stationary tracks X, outside of the machine, I employ a 'pair of rods or bars Y, Z. Said bars extend throughout the length of the machine and overlie the uppermost series of trays supported by the wheel Q and the various carriers within the tank. The lower bar Y is supported by brackets or ways A, see Figs. 3, 4: and 5. The upper bar Z, at the forward f nd of the machine, is provided with. red or stem B, which extends freely through an arm C, projecting upwardly from the lower bar Y. A coiled spring D surrounds the outer end or said rod, and is held against the outer face of arm G by a nut and washer mounted upon therod. This permits the two rods to have a relative movement, and normally throws bar Z outwardly into the position shown in Fig. 1. A series of hooks or fingers E are pivotally connected to bars Y, Z, in the manner shown in said Fig. 1, that is to say, the hooks are pivotally connected to the rods at the points designated by F and G. Normally the hooks .are held in their elevated position by spring D withdrawing bar Z, and consequently throwing the pivotal points F and G out of alinement and thereby raising the depending ends of the hooks. When, however, the bar Z is moved by means which will presently be described, spring D is compressed and the ends of the hooks are thrown downward into a position in line with the ends of the crates. Upon further movement of bars Y and Z, the crates will be first engaged by the hooks and then moved forward a distance equal to the movement of the bars. 'To.cffect this longitudinal movement of the bars, bar Y is provided with a rack H. which meshes with a segmental gear I, mounted upon a shaft J, carried in suitable bearings at the discharge end of the machine. Shaft J also carries a pinion K, whi h in turn meshes with a vertically disposed rack L. Reciprocating motion is imparted to rack L", in a manner hereinafter Set forth, and as a consequence, reciprocating motion is 1,1oc,oss

vard, in themanner above set forth. Upon a return movement of segmental gear. I,

and consequently a return movement of,

rack H, bar Z is moved independently of bar Y, and as a result-the hooks are drawn upward, out of the path of the crates, and the bars Y, Z, are then moved toward the rear end of the machine, thehooks passing over the crates and their contained bottles, back into the position shown in Fig. 1, where they are again ready to be thrown downward to engage the crates and move them forward a step. When the bars are in the position shown in. Fig. 1, the gear and rack will occupy the position shown in Fig.2. This advancing mechanism for the crates is relatively simple and is brought into action automatically when the carriers come to a state of rest and another crate of bottles is brought into position by wheel Q, ready to be carried into the machine,

A pair of upright guide-rods or bars M v is secured in a vertical position in brackets or arms-N, extending outwardly from the rear or discharge end of the machine. These rods serve to support and guide plates 0, P, constituting the support for a series of rotating spindle-brushes Q. The lower plate, which carries the gears Q, is moved up and down by an arm R pivotally connected to a lever S, said lever being fulcrumed upon a fixed stud or axle T, extending outwardly from the tank. The opposite end of lever S is connected to the lower end of a rod U, which extends downwardly from a frame V, to which reciprocating motion is imparted, in a manner about to be de scribed. Rack L is formed upon the upper end of a rod WV, the lower end of said rod being connected to a frame X, which is re ciprocated when'the brushes are in their lowest position and the carriers are at rest.

Motion is imparted to the gears of the brushes through a vertically disposed shaft Y, (Fig. 5), said shaft carrying a car slidably mounted thereon but splined t ereto, so as to maintain its relation with the gears of the spindles yet permit the plates 0, P to be elevated. The lower end of shaft Y carries a beveled gear Z, which meshes with a corresponding gear A mounted upon a ,shaft B Shaft B which may be termed the power-shaft, carries a worm G which meshes with a worm-gear D inclosed in a suitable casing E and mounted upon a shaft F Said shaft carriescams G l-Iflwhich coact with the frames V, X, to raise and lower the same, said cams being set quartering so as to move rod W while the arm U is atrest, andivice ,versa. h? is prov vided with a crank or arm I (Fig. 5),,to

which is pivotally connected a link or pitman J theopposite end of which is pivotally connected to a pawl-carrier K A pawl L ,.mounted upon pawl-carrier K, coacts with a ratchet-wheel or toothed-disk M, mounted upon the outer end of the main shaft H.

The parts are so proportioned and arranged that shaft H is given the necessary step by-stcp movement when the brushes are in their elevated position and the hooks'E are elevated and out of the path of travel of the crates carried by the wheels or carriers. The movements and timing of the partsare controlled by shaft B from which they are all driven.

A series of pipes N are arranged in the upper portion of each of the chambers or compartments, and a pump 0 is provided 1 for each series of pipes, so that water at the proper degree of temperature may be forced through said pipes and sprayed into the upper-,portion of each chamber or compartment, and upon the bottles supported by the carriers. The temperature of the water will vary in each compartment, according to the temperature required within said compartment.

Assuming, for instance, that it be desired to maintain a temperature at substantially 35 ,Reaumur in chamber 1, 40 It. in chamher 2, 55 It. in chamber 3, 50 R. in chamber 4t, 4CQ R. in chamber 5, and 35 R., or less, in chamber (n-"the temperature of the supply of Water to each series of pipes will be regulated accordingly. In practice it will be found desirable to introduce the water at a temperature slightly higher than that at which the water is maintained in the lower portion of each chamber or compartment.

By thus introducing the water, the bottles are heated to a temperature approximately that of the Water contained within the compartment or chamber.

In Fig. 3 the water level is shown as comparatively low, but it may be varied and raised to any height, provided it does not reach the opening in the partition or diaphragm l), which divides the tank into chambers or compartments.

.lBy varying the length of the compartments, the length of time to which the bottles may be subjected to a given temperature may be determined. Taking chambers 1 and 2, for example, it will be seen that the bottles will remain in chamber 2 twice the length of time that they remain in chamber 1, and that they will remain in chamber 4 four times as long as they would'in chamber ture ..yvithin t e apparatus, namely, that within the third chamber.

subjected to a temperatureo-f 50 lit, in

ill

Ieavingthe pasteurizing apparatus.

They are then transferred to chamber 4, where they are which they are supposed to remain for a period of, say, twenty minutes. From said chamber they are passed to chamber 5, where the-temperature is considerably lower. At

this point, in order to gradually reduce the ln order to etlect a quick cooling of the liquid in chamber 6, and to maintain it in said condition, the cooling pipe or coil Q, s employed, said'pipe being located with in the chamber as shown in F 1g. 2, and ice water or other cooling medium being passed thercthrough. As the bottles pass out of chamber 6 onto the fixed tracksor ways X, they are subjected to a water spray from pipes P located above the tracks. Said spray, acting in conjunction with the brushes, serves to thoroughly clean the bottles and prepare them for the labels,

which may be affixed directly thereto, with out further washing or cleaning of the bottles.

it has heretofore been a matter ct considerable expense to clean the bottles after The pasteurizing fluid is frequently made foul by breakage of the bottles in transit, and as a consequence the bottles emerge from the machine in a dirty condition and unfit for application of the labels. l/Vith the present invention, the bottles are automatically cleaned "as they leave the pasteurizer, renderingrehandling for this purpose unnecessary.

lit is of course conceivable that any number of chambers or compartments may be used, and that the length of any chamber or compartment may be varied according to requirements. I

No claim is made herein per so to the rack-advancing mechanism, nor is any claim made broadly to the tray-presentingmechanism which carries the trays upwardly into a position where they may be advanced into I the tank, as said structures areclaimed in Letters Patent No. 947,151, granted to me License under date of. January 18, 1910; nor is any claim made herein specifically to the particular construction or the frames V and X and the coactingpams, as they are also fully set forth and claimed in my application No.- 254,861, tiled April 10, 1905.

t will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art that the present apparatus may be used'to advantage as a bottle-soaking and Washing machine, the difili'erent compart-- ments forming separate Washing and rinsing chambers through which the bottles will be successively passed to the external cleaning brushes. 7

rla-ving thus described my invention, what it claim is:

1. In an apparatus of the character specitied, the combination of a tank provided with a series of chambers or compartments; means for supporting a series of bottle-racks in each of said compartments; means for,

periodically advancing the racks from one compartment to the next; means for spraying water into the upper portion 01 the vari ous compartments; means for externally heating those compartments in which the highest temperature is to be maintained; and means for cooling the liquid in the last compartment or the series.

2. in an apparatus of the character specified, the combination of a tank provided with a series of chambers or compartments; rotatable means mounted in each cit said chambers, for supporting a seriesot bottle: holding racks therein, said means at their uppermost portions standing above the level of the water in the compartments; and means for spraying water at the desired temperature upon the bottles as they enter and emerge from the water.

. 3. in an apparatus of the characterspecitied, the combination of a tank; a hollow wall dividingsaid tank into a plurality 0t chambers, the upper end of the wall being open; and a water supply-pipe opening into i said hollow wall.

4. lln an apparatus of the character specitied, the combination of a tank; a partition extending upwardly in said tank, said partition being. formed by two Walls spaced apart, with the upper edge or one wall lower than that oi the other; and a water supplyi pipe opening into the space between the walls. I

In testimony whereof l[ have signed my two subscribing witnesses.

()Tlll) EICK.

Witnesses:

ll-lowAnn 1E. Cause, Hanna. lit. MILLER.

name to this specification in the presence of v i 

